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NVAP Reference Guide: Common

Problems Observed on Certificates

for Live Animal Movement

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NVAP Reference Guide: Table of Contents

Questions, Comments, or Technical Issues?

NVAP Error Report Form

Preface

Introduction

Control and Eradication

Brucellosis

Johne’s Disease

Pseudorabies (PRV)

Tuberculosis

Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies

Scrapie

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)
Poultry

National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP)

Avian Influenza (AI)

Exotic Newcastle disease (END)

Equine Disease

Aquatic Animal

Aquatic Animal National Health Plan

Aquatic Animal Health Activities

Animal Health Emergency Management

Animal Health Emergency Management

Emergency Response Structure

National Response Framework (NRF)

National Incident Management System (NIMS)

National Animal Health Emergency Management System (NAHEMS)

Foreign Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Plan (FAD PReP)

FAD Recognition and Initial Response

National Animal Health Emergency Response Corps (NAHERC)

Notifiable Diseases and Conditions

WOAH and International Standards

Cleaning and Disinfection

Importance of Cleaning & Disinfection

Cleaning

Disinfection

Regulation of Disinfectants

Safety

Disease Surveillance

Laboratory Submissions

Animal Movement

Interstate Regulations

Interstate Movement of Cattle, Horses, Swine, Sheep and Goats

Issuing Interstate Animal Movement Documents

International Animal Movement
Issuing International Health Certificates (IHCs) for Live Animal Movement

Common Problems Observed on Certificates for Live Animal Movement

Animal Identification 

Animal Identification

Cattle Identification

Swine Identification

Equine Identification

Sheep and Goat Identification

Fowl Identification

Compliance and Regulations

Appendix

A: 9 CFR PARTS 160, 161, and 162

B: APHIS VS District Offices

C: State Animal Health Officials

D: Forms

E: Other Organizational Information with Contact Points

F: Web Sites

G: Equine Teeth and Aging

Health certificates used to move live animals interstate or international must be

completed accurately and fully and in alignment with the requirements of the

destination state or country. 

Incomplete or inaccurate documents, testing, or vaccinations may result in animals

being held at ports, confiscated, destroyed, refused entry, or returned to the

premises of origin. At the very least, errors can result in unnecessary delays for your

clients or patients.

Although APHIS has regulations applicable to the interstate movement of animals,

APHIS is not involved in certificate issuance or endorsement of certificates used for

these movements, called Certificates of Veterinary Inspection (CVIs). Please work

with the State Department of Agriculture or the State veterinarian in the state of
destination to determine what interstate requirements might exist for the specific

animal movement planned.

When live animals (including germplasm) are moved internationally, APHIS does

have regulatory authority over the certificates for these shipments, called

International Health Certificates (IHCs). The need for an IHC as well as APHIS

endorsement of an IHC after it has been issued by a clinical veterinarian is

dependent on the destination country’s requirements. Known export requirements,

including the requirements for export certification and certificates, can be found on

APHIS International Regulations (IREGs) website or the APHIS Pet Travel Website.

The following are examples of typical certificate errors that could affect the

international movement of animals. If you have any questions, contact your nearest

APHIS-VS endorsement office for guidance, and see the links at the end of this

section.

Failure to use the proper health certificate form. Check the APHIS IREGs or

APHIS’ Pet Travel Website prior to each export to ensure your form is up to

date. Please contact your local APHIS-VS endorsement office if you have any

questions. 

Failure to include supporting documents such as test results or vaccination

certificates (such as a rabies certificate) when submitting a certificate for APHIS

endorsement

Issuing veterinarian not being USDA Accredited in the State where the IHC was

issued.

Issuing veterinarian not having the correct USDA Accreditation credentials to

issue the IHC. For example, a veterinarian must be a Category II USDA

accredited veterinarian to issue IHCs for birds, horses, livestock, food and fiber

animals, farm-raised aquaculture, and zoo animals which can transmit livestock

diseases of concern.

Failure to record a complete name and address of place of origin (consignor)

and/or destination (consignee) on the IHC. These must be physical addressesP.O. boxes cannot be used.

Missing certification statements. Always download the most recent form

available.

Missing or illegible veterinary signature and date. 

Failure to be timely (health certificate or test results were completed outside

the required time period).
Improper identification of animal, or identification on all documents does not

match (examples: physical description of a horse differing between an IHC and

an official EIA test form, or a microchip number on a dog differing between an

IHC and an official test result)

Performing an improper type of test (example: the ELISA test for EIA when the

AGID test is required)

Illegible or incomplete writing.

Improper correction of mistakes. White-out should never be used on official

documents. Issuing veterinarians should line-out and initial any mistakes and

contact your local APHIS-VS endorsement office for advice. 

Not enclosing the appropriate user fee with the IHC with certificates submitted

for APHIS endorsement. Fees apply for endorsement to all live animal IHCs

except those for service animals as defined by the Americans with Disabilities

Act (ADA). Please note certificate endorsement for emotional support animals

are not exempt from user fees.

Improper date formats on IHCs which require specific format (such as IHCs to

the European Union, which require all dates to be formatted DD/MM/YY).

Failure to acquire APHIS endorsement of documents that require it.

Related Links

APHIS International Regulations for Animal Export

APHIS Pet Travel Website

User Fees

USDA Endorsement Offices